Shoe-last.



A. J. BUOH. SHOE LAST.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 17, 1908,

939,21 2, Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. J. BUCH.

SHOE LAST.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 17, 1908.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET cane 13% ADAM J. BITCH, OF PORTSMOUTH, OHIO.

SHOE-LAST.

Specification ef Letters Patent.

Application filed January 17, 1908. Serial No. 411,273.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADAM citizen of the United States, residing at Portsmouth, in the county of Scioto and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Lasts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to lasts for boots and shoes, and it has for its objects to simplify and improve the construction and operation of this class of devices.

difierent patterns,

One object of the present invention is to provide a last with a detachable metallic toe piece which may be made of any desired. size and shape, and which may be readily removed and replaced by another one of a different shape, thus enabling a set of lasts to be used in the production of footwear of or with different patterns of toes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a metallic toe piece with means whereby it may be heated to any desired degree,

rmcipally for the purpose of drying the ox gum or toe stiffening material whlch is frequently employed in the manufacture of that class of boots and shoes which are provided with stiff or hard toes, usually known to the trade as box toes.

Further special objects. of the invention will be hereinafter described, and particularly set forth in the claims. In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a sim 1e and preferred form of the invention; it eing, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the invention may e resorted to when desired.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective View of alast constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken throu the toe on the lane indicated by the line 22 in Fig. 3'.

- ig. 3* is a, bottom pian view of the last, a portion of the bottom protecting and reinforcing platehaving been broken away in order to expose the adjacent construction Fi 4 is a side elevation, partly in longitn nal sectiorn of the improved last.

Correspondin parts in. the severalfigures are denoted by ike characters of reference, In the. accompanying drawings I have chosen toillustrate the invention. as applied toone of that class of lasts which are com- J. BUCH, a

I posed of two principal parts or members,

the said parts or members being pivotally connected together by means of a'transversely disposed pin or pivot C which enables the last to be bent or flexed in order to facilitate its adjustment and extraction from the boot or shoe; a suitably constructed latch member D operates in conjunction with a fin or web E to maintain the last members in extended relation; this last construction is, however, well known in the art, and it has only been adopted in the present instance for purposes of illustration, and it is to be distinctly understood that the construction which is the subject of the present invention may be applied to a "last of any desired pattern.

The forward end of the last is provided with a toe piece 1 of metal, such as iron, aluminum or brass, the said toe piece preferably consisting of a casting of suitable shape and dimensions, the same being secured detachably upon the body of the last by means of fastening devices, such as screws 2, which, while holding the toe piece securely in position, will admit of its being readily detached when it shall be desired to substitute another one of a diflerent shape or pattern. A metallic protecting plate extends beneath the bottom of the last to which it is secured by means of screws or fastening members 4, 4; said plate being also secured to the under side of the toe piece 1 by means of a screw- 5 which serves to hold the toe piece in position with additional security; when, as in the present instance, the last is composed of two separate parts or members, the bottom protecting plate will be transversely divided, as indicated in the figures of the drawing.

In the under side of the toepiece 1 there is formed a pocket or recess 6 wherein is placed an electrical heater 7 of suitable cen struction; the samebeing surrounded by an ,insuiating packing 8 composed of strips ef mica and sheets 01" plates 9 of asbestos or equivalentmateriai. The terminal ends of 'the winding 10 of the heater are connected with the insulated conducting wires 11, 12 which are aeccmmodated in a groove or recess 13 in the under side of the last and in an aperture 14 that extends obliquely through the body of the last. Securely fitted in the upper end of the aperture 14, and properly insulated from the body of the namely, a heel piece A and a toe piece B;

" latter is composed of conducting material.

For the purpose of placing the heater 7 in an electrical circuit, when desired, 1 avail myself of a metallic plug 18 adapted for insertion into the thimble l5, and for electrical contact with the walls of the latter.

The plug 18 is electrically connected with one of the conductors 19 of an electrical circuit, including a rheostat 20; the other conductor 21 being extended through and insulated from the tubular plug 18, and

terminating in an exposed contact point 22 which is adapted for engagement with the terminal contact point 1'! of the conductor 11 connected with the heater. The plug 18 is equipped with a handle 23 whereby it may be conveniently manipulated.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that by simply inserting the plug 18 into the thimble 15 until the contact points 22 and 17 are in engagement, the electrical heater 7 will be placed in the circuit, and will instantly develop a degree 'of heat which is capable of being regulated by the switch of the rheostat 20, thus heating the toe piece 1 and adjacent parts to the degree desired by the operator. It will also be evident that any desired number of lasts may be placed in the same circuit.

1t is a well known fact among shoe manufacturers that the stifi or hard toes of footwear, usually known to the trade as box toes, are usually stiifenedby the application of a liquid known to the trade as box gum, the same being usually applied by means of a brush. Under the conditions existing at the present time it frequently requires from two to three days time for the box gum to thoroughly stifi'en or harden, by exposure to ordinary temperature, and it has been found impracticable to hasten the drying by the external application of heat, owing to the tendency to crack the leather, especially when enameled leather is used. This has been a great source of expense and annoyance, owing to the fact that it has been necessary to keep a very large number of lasts in use during the process of drying; another serious disadvantage is to be found in the extensive space required to accommodate the large number of lasts. By the present invention, after the shoe has been placed upon the last and the box gum has been applied, the heater is placed in the circuit, and the gum will thus be subjected to a drying which begins at the inside and extends in an outward direction, thus perabling the gum to be dried very swiftly,

and without the least danger of cracking either the gum or the leather, thus producing an absolutely water-proof covering for the toe of the boot or shoe. I

The improved process of drying not only dries the box gum, but it also serves to dry the box lining and the leather, keeping the latter and the enamel, when enameled leather is used, soft and pliable and allowing the leather to stretch to the position which it should occupy upon the last without damage thereto. It is also a wellv known fact that in operating upon certain grades of leather great difficulty is experienced in lasting or plaiting the leather at the toe without leaving wrinkles that will project above the edge of the sole. At the present time manufacturers are employing various means to overcome this difficulty, using different machines and implements, such as hotirons, in connection with oil or other lubricants for the purpos'e of softening the leather; the implements being usually heated over a gas flame and applied for the pur-' pose of shrinking out the wrinkles. In some cases heated metal rolls are applied to the leather for the purpose of scouring, burring and smoothing the latter, all of which is extremely injurious to the leather, as well as expensive in practice. By the use of the improved last, the wrinkles are taken out automatically as soon as the heat is applied, thus saving a very great expense for work, to say nothing of the expense of the machines and tools which have heretofore been utilized for thispurpose, as well as the expense of fuel and the repairs and maintenance of such machinery.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood. The construction is simple and inexpensive; the device is labor saving and eflicient for the purposes for which it is provided; and the product obtained by the use of the improved last is of a high grade and superior character.

Having thus described the invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States: v

1. A last having a toe piece of heat conductive material, said toe piece being provided with a recess, in combination with an electrical heater housed in said recess, an insulating packing between the heater and the walls of the recess, and a metallic plate secured upon the under side of the last and serving to retain the heater in its recess or housing.

2. A last having a metallic toe piece provided with a recess in its under side, an electrical heater housed Within said recess and a protecting plate or cover extending beneath assist in securing the toe piece upon the last.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 1n presence of two Witnesses.

ADAM J. BUCH. Witnesses: JOHN R. HUGHEs,

WM. J. BURKE 

